People of Ezinano community in Awka, Awka South Local Government Area have staged a peaceful protest within Awka and its environs demanding for immediate investigation and removal of Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, DCP Akin Fakorede and another officer working with the CID, Inspector Monday Umana, who they alleged are behind the cult activities in Awka.

 

The protesters came from the twenty villages of the four quarters that make up the Ezinano community in Awka, which are Umuokpu, Ezi-Awka, Amikwo and Agulu-Awka

During the protest, the people were seen with a coffin, placards with inscriptions registering their grievances, and some of the women were also seen naked lamenting how the issues have been affecting them and continuously claiming lives of their loved ones.

 

Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman Ezinano Community, Mr Tochukwu Nwaokoye-Nwosu said they are demanding for immediate investigation and removal of the two police officers who they claimed are backing cultists in Awka, reopening of Blue Shield Security outfit which they said are helping them in fighting crime and criminality in Awka, and improvement in the activities of the police in Awka, especially in protection of life and property and ending of operations of cult groups in the community.

Mr Nwaokoye-Nwosu also stated that they are giving the police seven days ultimatum to do the needful in respect to their demands or have the people protect themselves their own way.

 

Contributing, a community leader in the area, Chief Richard Onuorah, two mothers, Mrs Amaechi Nwobu and Gloria Ezulike emphasized the need for Inspector General of Police, Anambra state Police Commissioner, and other relevant authorities to listen to the cry of the people and take necessary action to save lives.

Responding to the issue on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderemi Adeoye, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Tochuchukwu Ikenga who commended the protesters on their peaceful disposition during the exercise, assured that the command will investigate the claims of the people and take necessary action, even as he called on families that had lost their loved ones to cult related issues and others to approach the police for investigation and justice, restating the commitment of the state police command to providing Ndi Anambra with adequate security.

He refuted the alleged closure of Blue Shield security outfit by the state Police command, saying that the police and the Blue Shield security outfit have been partnering in combating crime and criminality around Awka and its environs.